Ever since KICKS 3 (summer 2000), each issue of the annual sneaker mag—KICKS 10 not included—has contained two or three new inductions into the KICKS Hall of Fame, where footwear legends past and present are honored. This may not be fresh material for those of you who’ve been copping the mag since before the new millennium hit, but for the younger heads, we’re posting the entire HOF online over the course of the next few weeks. (It’ll be archived under the KICKS tab above.) Enjoy, and don’t forget: KICKS 14 is on sale now! —Ed.

You could make a pretty strong argument that Sonny Vaccaro should’ve been the very first inductee into the KICKS Hall of Fame. If you understand what Vaccaro has meant, for better or worse, to the basketball shoe industry over the past 25 years, and if you grasp his no-joke impact on nearly every aspect of the sneaker game, you’d have a hard time making a case for anyone else.

You know how Coach K and Rick Pitino and all their top D1 brethren make millions off shoe deals? Sonny started that. Or how MJ started a revolution with his signature Nikes almost 20 years ago? Wouldn’t have happened without Sonny. How adidas was almost out of the game before they inked Kobe and Tracy? That’s Sonny’s legacy. How the three major HS summer camps are the place to find the next prep stars? Sonny’s the reason—for all three of ’em. How LeBron was worth $90 million before he even got drafted? How the Roundball and McDonald’s games fill NBA gyms each spring? How eight high school kids went in the first round of this year’s Draft? Sonny, Sonny, Sonny.

“I’m the most unlikely person in the world to be involved in this industry, and I’ve been blessed,” says the 64-year-old Vaccaro, a year into his role as Director of Grassroots Basketball for Reebok. “I don’t think about it, but I know I’m ingrained in this industry.”

His rise to a place of such unequaled influence in the kicks game may be unlikely, but it’s no accident—he was clearly meant for this. Vaccaro is a man of convictions, and he’s never been shy about sharing them with anyone who asks. As such, it’s pretty much either love or hate with Sonny. Those who love him—who see how he never shies from battling NCAA hypocrisy and blinders-wearing media types—do so with a fierce loyalty. Those who hate him, who say he’s ruining the game and corrupting the kids who play it, attack him loudly and often. Where Sonny is concerned, neutrality isn’t an option.

It all started in Pittsburgh, where he held the first Dapper Dan Roundball Classic as a showcase for the nation’s top basketball players—the first of its kind—in 1964. As the game grew, so did Sonny’s role in the industry. He joined Nike in 1977, and his groundbreaking ways continued with the Swoosh: In 1978, he signed Jerry Tarkanian and UNLV to an endorsement deal, a modest but unprecedented agreement in which Nike provided shoes and cash to the Rebels. The college game would never be the same.

Yes, there’s more. He started the ABCD Camp in 1984, immediately changing the way HS players were scouted and recruited. Not long after, he convinced his bosses at Nike that Michael Jordan was the guy they should build their growing basketball shoe line around; you know how that turned out. He left Nike in 1991—taking the rights to ABCD and Roundball with him—and landed at adidas two years later, helping put the Three Stripes on the grassroots map. When Kobe and T-Mac came up through Sonny’s network and eventually signed with adidas, it only reconfirmed his influence. So it wasn’t surprising that when Reebok decided to get serious about its place in the game, they made Sonny an offer he couldn’t refuse. Shortly after seeing the ’bok outbid adidas in a failed bid for LeBron James last spring, he joined the Vector crew and once again brought his grassroots empire with him.

Ask Sonny about his legacy, where he’s had the greatest impact so far, and he’ll mention the obvious moments: Jordan’s signing was “a thrill,” LeBron’s ascension was “maybe my greatest experience, just watching Gloria James get her son to this point.” But more than any single event, Vaccaro says he’s proudest of his role in the preps-to-pros wave that has altered the game at every level. In his mind, it’s about the players, nothing else. “I think this last seven or eight years have kind of been the culmination of all my desires,” he says. “At Roundball this year, I watched the complete evolution—to see all the NBA people in the stands and no college people. And it did me good to watch those eight kids get drafted.”

Sonny’s army of haters will tell you those words represent everything that’s wrong with the game. But when the man himself looks around at the generations of ballplayers who credit him with helping their careers and improving their lives, the haters are hard to hear. The industry bears his imprint, as do the kids who make it matter. And when Sonny says, “It’s been the most wonderful ride a human being could ever ride,” you can’t help but believe him.

The famous sports marketing executive — Sonny Vaccaro signed Michael Jordan to his first shoe deal — tells the Chris Vernon Show that Nike and other apparel companies will pay their biggest clients to play in China (and other countries) during the NBA lockout: “Sonny Vaccaro says he thinks Kobe Bryant will go to play in China, and Nike will pay him to do it … Sonny tells us on the show that he thinks guys w/ the endorsement (like LeBron, Rose, Howard, etc) will pay them to play overseas.”

I was carefully scanning the wall of shoes at Champs when I was startled by what surely had to be Justin Bieber-induced screams.

When I turned around and saw all the young girls in attendance freak out as Lakers point guard Jordan Farmar entered the store, reality set in and I remembered my reason for being in the Valley. On Tuesday evening, Farmar and Clippers guard Eric Gordon showed up at Champs at the Northridge Fashion Center on behalf of adidas to kick off the opening of an official NBA store within the retailer. Fans will now be able to pick up authentic NBA apparel by adidas at most Champs stores nationwide.

It was a cool event dominated mostly by Lakers fans, although they showed Gordon plenty of support as well, with some fans demanding he defect to The Lake Show. The event was hosted by a local MC who brought both players up to a mini stage set up in the corner of the store where they were interviewed briefly. Fans had a chance to take photos and video as shirts and tickets were raffled off. Farmar could barely talk over the middle school girls screaming “I love you Jordan!” as he spoke. Farmar is clearly a natural with fans. A local high school and college star before joining the Lakers, he’s attended many events like this in the past and it shows. Gordon was great as well, but he’s a few years younger and still a bit shy.

After their interviews, the players headed up to the cash registers to put in some work. Decked out in their Champs uniforms, Gordon and Farmar helped ring up customers for about half an hour, signing autographs and taking pictures. “It’s nice to see the support from all the fans,” Farmar says. “They get a chance to interact with you personally. It’s nice to be yourself. It’s fun.”

As I watched nearby, I caught up with Elie Seckbach of AOL Fanhouse and he came across a 14-year-old girl named Brenda who was trying to rap her way to the front of the line so she could get an autograph from Farmar. She started rapping Kobe Bryant by Lil Wayne: I’m going for the ring/I’m going for the ring/I went to Bejing and came back with the bling.

It was a sight to behold. A couple of Seckbach’s audio clips from his past interviews are embedded in the actual song, so he enjoyed Brenda’s verses. When the line finally died down and Brenda ran out of breath, I had a chance to catch up with both players in the Champs stockroom. I damn near had a Lil Dez moment back there when I saw all the rows of shoes, stacked up to the ceiling.

While Farmar and Gordon are two players in completely different situations, both believe they have yet to fulfill their full potential. Despite the Clippers lack of success this season, Gordon has had a stellar sophomore campaign, averaging about 17 ppg while shooting about 45 percent from the floor.

SLAM: What did you think of the event?Eric Gordon: Lots of Lakers fans here, but overall, it was a fun event.

SLAM: I know you’re one of the young players who adidas is very excited about. How has your experience with the brand gone thus far?EG: I’ve had a great relationship with them. I really knew most of the guys over there before I signed—I’ve known them since high school. That’s really why I’m happy to be with them.

SLAM: Are you hoping that someday you will become one of their marquee endorsers, like Dwight Howard?EG: Oh yeah, definitely. I would love to have that type of hype with advertisements.

SLAM: Talk about this season. I know it didn’t go as planned for you guys. How frustrating has it been?EG: It really is frustrating. We had a lot of expectations this year and now you have to restart and do it again next year. It’s been a whirlwind. Hopefully we will come out good real soon.

SLAM: There was a lot of talk in the media about you focusing on driving to the basket early this year rather than relying on your jumper. Was that accurate?EG: That’s what some people seem to think. But I’ve always gone to the basket and tried to use my size and get to the line.

SLAM: Have you heard anything about the direction the Clippers are going to go coaching wise?EG: No. It’s been under the radar right now. They said they’re not going to announce a coach until July so we’re going to wait and see.

SLAM: What are your plans for the off-season?EG: I usually stay in Indiana and I’m going to work on trying to get better in various areas. Its hard being a point guard and shooting guard, learning how to do all the different things needed. I’m going to work on my post game and some different things to help make me better.

SLAM: As a great shooter, what advice can you give any kids out there looking to improve their shot?EG: It always starts with form. Everybody has different form. But as long as you can find your own niche in how to make shots in a comfortable way, you’ll be fine.

SLAM: I had a chance to watch you play at the Big Time Tournament in Las Vegas in 2006. Your AAU team played a great game against the Southern California All Stars. You, Derrick Rose, Brandon Jennings and Kevin Love were all on the floor. Taylor King, Renardo Sidney and Daniel Hackett weren’t too bad either. You had a crazy breakaway dunk that sent all the kids from the stands onto the floor. Sonny Vaccaro had to restore order. Do you remember that?EG: Of course. It was crazy. [Smiles]

*****

In his fourth season with the Lakers, Farmar has averaged 7 ppg in about 18 minutes of action a night. A solid backup to starter Derek Fisher, Farmar is hoping to become the Lakers future floor general.

SLAM: Talk about your relationship with adidas. It goes back to your days at UCLA, right?Jordan Farmar: I actually wore them in high school as well, then college and all of my time in the NBA, so it’s been quite a while. They’ve taken good care of me. We have a good relationship.

SLAM: Seems like the brand fits your style.JF: They’ve got a lot of cool stuff. Their Originals are incredible. I like to keep it simple, comfortable and cool. They do all that.

SLAM: Talk about your play this year and your progression as an NBA player.JF: Just trying to do more and more. I’m on a championship team where the margin for error is very small. Coming off the bench is tough—we all have our roles and have to make sacrifices to be a championship contender. We’re trying to do that. The biggest step for me has been trying to fit into a role and continue to grow at the same time. It’s been a great ride so far. I’ve won a championship and been there and lost. We’re looking forward to defending the title this year.

SLAM: Are you happy with your role on this team?JF: I’m definitely happy as far as being a part of a championship contender as a young player in the League. But I definitely want more in my career. I want to run a team—I want to be a starting point guard. I definitely feel like I have that ability if given the opportunity.

SLAM: Do you think you guys are where you need to be at this point as a team?JF: At this point we’re not playing our best basketball. We’ll figure it out by the time the Playoffs come around. We’re still in first place in the West and the Western Conference is extremely tough. We definitely have to turn it up a notch.

SLAM: Talk about your future. Where are you contractually at this point?JF: I will be a restricted free agent so the Lakers will have a chance to match. My desire is to be a starting point guard. We’ll take it from there. At this point, that doesn’t matter right now. It’s about helping our team win the championship. I would love to be a Laker my whole career. I’ve been a fan my entire life, so it would be special. But I’m not too worried about that right now.

Over the past 30 years, no one has had a larger impact on the shoe industry—and the summer runs that come with it—than Sonny Vaccaro. He is behind every revolution in basketball. Signature shoes? Check. Summer camps? Check. Choosing Europe over college? Check. The Game and the shoe game wouldn’t be the same without his vast contributions. Here’s to you, Sonny V.—Tzvi Twersky

Age limit. What age limit?: “This year or next year, Vaccaro predicted, a player will turn pro and head to Europe after his junior year of high school. If that seems like one more sign of the basketball apocalypse, consider that many of the Europeans who populate NBA rosters began playing professionally as young as 14. In any case, Vaccaro believes Europe should be a destination only for exceptionally talented and relatively mature players. And Jennings has cautioned that his Italian sojourn hasn’t been one big scoop of gelato: ‘I don’t want anyone coming over here thinking it’s easy,’ he wrote on his Under Armour blog.” (Via: SbB)

The, um, “news” broke Friday in a New York Times story headlined “Brandon Jennings Sends Home a Warning From Europe.” The gist, if you haven’t seen it, is that Jennings has some regrets about skipping college and jumping to Italy for a year of pre-NBA professional hoops. Specifically, Jennings laments:

“I’ve gotten paid on time once this year… They treat me like I’m a little kid. They don’t see me as a man. If you get on a good team, you might not play a lot. Some nights you’ll play a lot; some nights you won’t play at all. That’s just how it is… I don’t see too many kids doing it. It’s tough man, I’ll tell you that. It can break you.”

Well, fair points, and, as they’ve come straight from the player’s mouth, none I can argue with. If you care to, you might remember that I came out pretty hard (twice, actually) in support of Brandon making this jump, which put me firmly in the minority among media folk. As such, I guess I should be feeling a little humbled by this news. But I find I’m not. Not really.

The one thing I’ll cop to is giving European basketball teams (or this one, at least) too much credit for being able to CTC on time. I knew the rep of Euro teams frustrating their players with late (or non-existent) payments, but I guess I was convinced by the fact that this deal got so much publicity—not to mention the benefit of Sonny Vaccaro’s involvement—that the folks at Lottomatica Virtus Roma would’ve stepped up. Apparently they haven’t, which seems awfully short-sighted for them as a club, and for European hoops in general. If they were handling things better, it might’ve made Europe a much more attractive destination for the kids in the Class of ’09 and beyond who will, and still might, consider following Brandon’s lead.

So, my bad on trusting some Romans to pay their bills (I also didn’t foresee the global financial crisis that would bring the Euro down to the level of the weak dollar, thus making the decision a lot less lucrative — but then, hey, neither did Alan f*cking Greenspan). Otherwise, though, this latest blurb in the Brandon Jennings story has only reinforced for me how much someone, anyone needed to challenge the NCAA. I had it in mind Friday night when I watched ’09 stud Renardo Sidney (one of the kids who had been pretty seriously considering the Euro option, although he apparently isn’t now) and his Fairfax squad run through 2010 Louisville signee Jeremy Tyler and San Diego High on ESPN. Sidney, of course, is the insanely skilled big man who’s on the Amar’e Stoudemire pace for career high school stops, and I wouldn’t have been surprised to see him (with Sonny’s blessing) give Europe a try. That he probably won’t now is fine; if he finds a college situation he’s happy with, and if a year or two in the NCAA helps him prepare for the NBA, more power to him.

Then came Saturday night, when I sat in the press room before the Penn State-Iowa game and saw ESPN scrolling the Jennings’ “warning” as some sort of breaking news along their bottom-line feed. This was during the broadcast of a college basketball game (Wisconsin-Illinois, I think) so it made such beautiful sense for the network of universal coach apologists like Dickie V (who I mostly like, honest) and Big Monday and everything else to run snippets of Jennings’ quotes. If you didn’t actually read the Times story, and only saw the ticker (or read the follow-up gloating of some national columnists), you’d think Jennings was on the next boat home, a miserable, apologetic prodigal son.

Except, here’s what the ESPN crawl didn’t mention, and what the Times story sort of buried:

Jennings acknowledged that the journey had helped him mature, and he said the rigors of playing in Europe may benefit others…

An N.B.A. assistant coach who has been to Europe and has watched Jennings play said his potential draft standing had not been harmed. “I think it is good for him. He was getting a defensive component that he needed. If I was a scout and I needed a point guard, I would be extremely impressed with what he has done over there.”

So he’s homesick, and he’s had to accept a different role than he was used to, and his coach doesn’t respect him, and his playing time isn’t guaranteed. I imagine all of that sucks. I’d also point out that those are exactly the same reasons why dozens of D1 kids each year transfer from one school to another, or drop out altogether, but I digress — and I give Brandon credit both for surviving it, and manning up enough to admit it. I didn’t need more reasons to like the kid, but there you go.

But then, oh, by the way: Jennings acknowledged that the journey had helped him mature. Well, that’s something, right? And then, the NBA assistant, saying he was “extremely impressed” by what Jennings has done in Europe. If I’m following this correctly, Jennings will come back from eight or nine months in Europe a more mature person and a more well-rounded player — AND he got paid (even if it wasn’t always on time) something like $1 million for his trouble? That doesn’t actually sound so horrible, does it? I hope I’m not the only one who’s offended by a predictably one-sided take on this.

Listen, I love college basketball. I don’t want to see the sport collapse, and I know there’s plenty of value (both tangible and intangible) in kids going to school and playing ball. I don’t want to see the best American high school kids playing in Europe. But I am immovable in my certainty that the NCAA takes advantage of many of these kids, that college coaches and entire programs sell their players a bill of goods and then don’t follow through (ask Eric Gordon how he liked his year at Indiana), and that anything that challenges the system is, and remains, a good thing.